Chemical scare at factory

PUBLISHED: 15:52 31 March 2008 | UPDATED: 13:08 06 May 2010

BOXES of corrosive chemicals stacked up outside a factory caused a scare at the weekend. It is thought that a security guard on the industrial estate in St Albans Road, Sandridge, smelt acetic acid at around 8.30pm on Sunday night and rang the police who

BOXES of corrosive chemicals stacked up outside a factory caused a scare at the weekend.

It is thought that a security guard on the industrial estate in St Albans Road, Sandridge, smelt acetic acid at around 8.30pm on Sunday night and rang the police who then called out the fire service.

Four fire crews, including two from St Albans, arrived at the factory used by the digital imaging and photographic equipment supplier Key Photo which, it was later discovered, was in the process of moving out of the premises.

Firefighters found 20 boxes of acetic acid labelled corrosive piled up outside the factory, all of which were safely sealed.

It is thought the strong chemical smell was emerging from a nearby skip where a broken container had been disregarded and it was not believed to be hazardous.

A representative of the company was called out and explained that the boxes had been stacked up outside the factory for collection in the morning as the company was relocating.

The boxes were then moved inside the factory as a precaution and firefighters and police left the scene at around 11pm.